The sacrament of Penance

Question 187

What is the Sacrament of Penance?

Penance is a Sacrament in which the sins committed after Baptism are forgiven.

Question 188

How does the Sacrament of Penance remit sin, and restore to the soul the friendship of God?

The Sacrament of Penance remits sins and restores the friendship of God to the soul by means of the absolution of the priest.

Question 189

How do you know that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins committed after Baptism?

I know that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins committed after Baptism, because Jesus Christ granted that power to the priests of His Church when He said: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."

Question 190

How do the priests of the Church exercise the power of forgiving sins?

The priests of the Church exercise the power of forgiving sins by hearing the confession of sins, and granting pardon for them as ministers of God and in His name.

Question 191

What must we do to receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily?

To receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily we must do five things: 1. We must examine our conscience. 2. We must have sorrow for our sins. 3. We must make a firm resolution never more to offend God. 4. We must confess our sins to the priest. 5. We must accept the penance which the priest gives us.

Question 192

What is the examination of conscience?

The examination of conscience is an earnest effort to recall to mind all the sins we have committed since our last worthy confession.

Question 193

How can we make a good examination of conscience?

We can make a good examination of conscience by calling to memory the commandments of God, the precepts of the Church, the seven capital sins, and the particular duties of our state in life, to find out the sins we have committed.

Question 194

What should we do before beginning the examination of conscience?

Before beginning the examination of conscience we should pray to God to give us light to know our sins and grace to detest them.

God's forgiveness through ministry

Questions 187, 188, 189, 190

Absolution is the sacramental declaration of forgiveness given by the priest as a minister of Christ. The priest is not presented as an independent source of forgiveness. Catechism 1440–1449 joins reconciliation with God and reconciliation with the Church. Read John 20 in full: the risen Jesus greets the disciples with peace, sends them, and gives the Spirit. The saying about forgiveness belongs within that commission.

The parts of a response

Questions 191

The five requirements form a sequence: recognize wrongdoing, turn away from it, intend a changed life, confess honestly, and accept penance. None is meant to replace the others. Naming an act without any wish to change is different from repentance; feeling regret without facing what happened can also leave a person avoiding responsibility. The sequence helps connect inward conversion with truthful speech and concrete action.

Examination of conscience

Questions 192, 193, 194

An examination reviews choices in the light of faith and one's responsibilities. The lesson directs attention to commandments, recurring faults, and duties of one's state of life. Make that last phrase concrete: responsibilities to family, coworkers, dependents, and people affected by your actions. Begin with prayer as the lesson suggests, then examine specific conduct rather than making a sweeping judgment about your worth as a person. The aim is honest repentance and a way forward.

John 20:19–23

The risen Christ's gift of peace and the Spirit frames the commission concerning forgiveness.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21

Paul connects new creation with the ministry and appeal of reconciliation.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Psalm 51:1–12

The psalm gives words for acknowledging wrongdoing and asking for a renewed heart.

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.